Dust-scattered X-ray halos observed with Chandra: Results from GX13+1

Randall Smith, Richard Edgar (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)


Abstract

X-ray halos around point sources have been long predicted, and were first observed by Einstein. They are created by small-angle scattering in dust grains in the ISM, and their properties strongly depend on the composition, size, and position of these dust grains. Prior observations with Einstein and ROSAT allowed at best rough estimates of the dust grain properties to be made. Chandra's exquisite angular resolution measures X-ray halos in far greater detail than ever before. We present the first results from observations of GX13+1, along with comparisons to existing dust grain models.

CATEGORY: GALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION AND SURVEYS



 

Himel Ghosh
2001-07-11